My memory has gone drastically down hill this last month on Buspar. I see faces, and can't put names with them (either in person, or on TV!) Then 30 minutes later, or the next day, I remember who that person was.
Not only is it not working this time for me, it is making me worse! I am having panic attacks several times a day, which I have never experienced before, ever!
I have to stop now. It's been a month now, and every week has gotten worse!
Has anyone else experienced these same problems while taking it? I have taken it many times in the past, off and on when needed, but this has been a terrible month of anxiety and panic while taking it.
I have never had this much trouble with panic until now. Anxiety yes, but panic like this - heck no, never before!
Why does Buspar just quit working? Why is it making my panic attacks worse?
Question posted by Anonymous on 22 May 2018
Last updated on 9 October 2018
Answers
Buspar has worked well for you in the past so if the drug is the same it’s possible there are other factors. Have you added or stopped taking any other meds lately? May be an interaction or ‘lack of interaction’ could have changed the effect it’s having. Also, if something happened in your life that prompted your going back on Buspar maybe the anxiety level is higher than when it worked before and you need to talk about dosage, changing to something that will be more effective in challenging the amount of anxiety, or adding another med to the Buspar to help with the anxiety and panic you’re feeling. Since Buspar isn’t giving the relief it did in the past, do consider if there have been any changes in your medication since it worked for you in the past, talk about the dosage strength or adding a helper, or switching to possibly a Buspar related or even an different medication that may help if you’re going through something now that wasn’t factored in when Buspar was originally prescribed. Since there are so many to choose from that target some more specific issues, there may be something that will help you now if anything did change in your life. There’s a reason it’s not helping this time but you can find out what it is and fix it. Hope you feel better when you do.
Thank you for your comment. I am very concerned that buspar has had such a negative effect on my memory. I have never experienced any medication doing this to me to such a great extent before, and it is not something I can tolerate. Raising the dose seems that it would only make this problem worse, which is not a side effect I choose to live with.
Short term recall like “Why did I just come into this room?”, or “I should know that person but don’t.”, can be caused by your generally being in a bad place mentally and emotionally. Anxiety and Panic Attacks could make you unable to have a smooth running mind. Very stressful. Buspar MAY not have the sedative effect you currently need so switching to something else is something you could talk to your Doctor about (hopefully a Psychiatrist). Since you know Buspar, you probably know 60mg is max dose and to get there you have to start low and increase by 5mg every few days until you get relief but, again it may not be the right medication for you now. It’s hard to find really great medical advice. That’s why they call it ‘practicing medicine’ heh, but a Psychiatrist is the best for brain related imbalances or chemically induced issues.
Since the spectrum of meds is so vast, sometimes we have to try a few different meds to get the right one and sometimes it will be a combination in order to get relief. You’re having debilitating symptoms and I know what a panic attack feels like. No fun and if you’re having them fairly often you have to be living with concern about when the next one is coming and they’re not easy to hide! If your Doctor could reevaluate you and factor in any changes like asking you why you chose to start taking Buspar a month ago, if there have been any added or dropped other meds, how many times and over how long a period has Buspar had a positive outcome? Again, it may be that you should have something that addresses your anxiety and panic attacks. It wouldn’t be my place to name other meds that probably really help you better than Buspar but there are definitely others more suitable in your predicament. You shouldn’t have to live with all of this hanging over you so if you don’t have a Psychiatrist who can explore other alternatives, hopefully you can find one. It’s not that you need therapy necessarily but they’re just more knowledgeable than GP’s or any other Doctors who don’t study and deal with the chemistry of our brains. There’s something out there that will get you back on track and it may take a few practice runs, but it’s in a bottle somewhere. You just have to get help in finding it. I really hope you can and that you get better. Be careful and make sure you fully participate in looking for ‘the cure’ by getting information on medications suggested and by providing all of the facts about your feelings and life. If you are going to look for a new Doctor to help with this particular problem who is in the field, your GP should understand. It’s all in a main database so if you have a regular Doctor who put you on Buspar she or he will probably see it but it’s not a problem. You have to go to someone who’s likely better educationally equipped to help find your anecdote to what sounds like misery. Good luck, be proactive, and in a bit you’ll feel better.
Hi travel: Thank you for your excellent responses.
I decided to hang in there with my buspar at current dosage. I am also taking Wellbutrin SR.
A couple of days ago, I started to have this overwhelming relief, absence of anxiety attacks, awesome nights of sleep, and waking up with now awakening anxiety. I feel like I am over the worst, and now I am starting to get the relief I was seeking with these medications. I went shopping today and felt energetic, without any anxiety feelings creeping in. Now I remember why this combination used to work for me in the past. I just needed to give it time to work again. It is a pleasant feeling of relief from the anxiety and panic attacks all during the day and all during the night, along with lack of sleep that I had been experiencing.
I do have an upcoming surgical procedure, discussed my apprehension with my doctor, and he was very understanding. He is going to give me lorazepam to take the night before so that I will be able to sleep.
Thanks again!
I meant to type "no" awakening anxiety instead of "now" awakening anxiety, lol.
Just an update: I stuck with the buspar, and I am not having any more panic attacks, thank goodness! It kind of sneaked up on me, so I didn't notice right away. Then I realized that I am now waking up without the anxious feeling, and my head is clear, not having those memory problems. I am wondering if maybe the memory problems were being caused by feeling overwhelmed with anxiety and panic. Everything was affecting me negatively and I felt overwhelmed. Now I feel more normal and things are smoothing out nicely.
Buspar and Bupropion combination has worked well for me. It just took a little more time.
Hi travel: Once again, thank you for your comments and advice. You were right on target!
In December it will be 4 years since I've started taking Buspar and other than a few months after giving birth to my daughter in June of 2016, it worked fine! I felt my best from February of 2017 until last month. I felt like it wasn't working as good anymore so my doctor and I came up with the bright idea to add Lexapro to the Buspar. Biggest mistake of my life!! I took my first dose of Lexapro on a Thursday evening at 7:00PM, fell asleep around 10:00PM and woke up in a full blown panic attack at 12:00AM. That attack lasted all the way trough Saturday afternoon, with a total of maybe 4 hours of sleep all together. It got so bad that I went to the hospital. I've had anxiety for over 10 years so I know what it feels like but that was beyond anything I've ever felt. Of course I've stopped taking the Lexapro but it seems like my body still hasn't adjusted and the added dizziness is not helping.
I should have stuck with just the Buspar! I see my psychiatrist on the 22nd of this month, hopefully it will get better! I just want to get back to being somewhat normal.
Related topics
buspar, wellbutrin, wellbutrin sr, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd), bupropion, buspirone, anxiety and stress, memory
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
